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Access Health Louisiana infectious disease physician Dr. MarkAlain Dery and Community Medicine Director Doc Griggs have launched an animated video series that helps people better understand how the COVID-19 vaccine works. In episode one, Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs journey through the human body to explain how mRNA vaccines stimulate the immune system to fight COVID-19. Future episodes will feature the duo exploring COVID-19 variants through fairy tale analogies. Both Dery and Griggs hope the animated videos will help the public feel more comfortable about getting vaccinated. “Using animation to explain immunizations seemed like the perfect direction for me and Doc Griggs,” said Dr. Dery. “We have a long history of using humor and stories to explain dense medical concepts. Whimsical animations rooted in scientific data is the next step in our mission to reduce vaccine hesitancy.”
At the end of 2020, Dr. Dery and Doc Griggs began working with Gigantic Fantastic, an educational production company, to begin conceptualizing the videos. In January 2021, they teamed up with FableVision Studios, a multi-media production company specializing in positive storytelling and interactive technologies, for support with design, scriptwriting, designing storyboards and full animation production.
Doc Griggs emphasizes the need for more diversity in medicine. “Hopefully these videos spark the interest of students of color to explore STEM when they see a black doctor on screen. The impact of these videos can be tremendous not only in promoting vaccinations, but also empowering younger generations to study medicine and public health.”
Dery and Griggs produce their own podcast called “NoiseFilter”. You can listen in on Spotify or view more videos through their YouTube channel.
